View Full Version : Slightly Off Topic - London Brighton Bike Ride
Did it yesterday on a push bike - it's a bit like a motor bike but without an engine....and slower.
25 000 riders & most of them didn't know how to ride a bike. Overtaking other cyclist without doing a shoulder check, Lube-free chains/sprockets and too much lycra.
Mentioning the ride as I saw an accident yesterday - a lady face planted due to a cyclist panicking & swerving when a car when (slowly) past. She was wearing one of those cycle helmets & it didn't save her. There was a 1/2 metre blood streak on the road & she was at the side wailing like an injured water buffalo. Really horrible sounds. Nose & chin all mashed in.
Seeing that made me re-affirm that I'll always wear full face on my bike even in the height of summer.
A lesson for us all, methinks.
D.
Yeah I did it as well mate. It was a good day wasn't it? Thank gawd it didn't get sunnier eh?
I'm well chuffed that I cycled up Ditchling Beacon :cheers:
I saw some big pile ups as well. Some were doing well at taking each other out. :twisted:
Thing that struck me about it was the state of the machinery many people were doing it on. How do they figure that a bike that is barely capable of going to the shops will do 60 miles! LOL
How about you - you got legs today!!
Legs are pretty good condition today. I went to the massage tent afterwards (the free one that only asked for contributions).
There was a "large" girl on a bike going up one of the hills & I weas thinking how the hell can she be doing that speed she doesn't look like she's been to the gym in years.
As soon as I got level I saw the tandem & the skinny whippet bloke on the fron sweating like Gary Glitter on a school bus.
Good day out & I beat my "proper"-cyclist work colleagues to the finish. :o)
Mr Toad
19-06-06, 12:59 PM
did you jump any red traffic lights :twisted:
Have done this a couple of times - suberb day out!
Yet to make it to the top of Ditchling Beacon on me bicycle though!
wouldn't recommend it Helen - believe me :lol:
Helen - I think you're on your bike back to front ;o)
Or did you buy one with 6 reverse gears?
That hill at the end was a nightmare - I was less than 100 metres from the top & gave up & walked it remainder of it:o(
Still the next 7 miles to Brighton down hill were *dead* easy!
That Kinvig is the joyous Ditchling Beacon hill!
The only reason I went up it is that:
1. I am stubborn
2. I am local and cycle up it quite a bit
3. I am stupid
Cracking view of the Weald from the top eh?! Never ceases to impress me.
ps missed out on that (free) massage mate.
must admint I didn't see much of the views as I was fairly tanknig it the entire time. No time for sight seeing!!!
There were a number ladeez in Brighton that looked like men in drag!! Bizarre, eh?
Stay away from those bushes above the beach Kinvig. This area is most aptly named the 'King's Mound' (puns on a postcard pls)
Lots of men and 'ladies' seem to disappear in here and come out with very 'relaxed' expressions??
:roll:
Kinvig - that's me inspecting my hamicad mod about 2 years ago.
Ditchling Beacon has me beaten before i even get to it. Looks like a whacking great mountain when you're cycling up to it.
I hope to do it next year!
It is impressive isn't it Helen.
But to put it into perspective it is only a mile long.
Think of the Tour de France. They do hills like that for 20 km and they are doing 25 mph! :shock:
Good luck next year!
(By the way I think the trick to it is to always come out of the easiest gear when you can. Then when it steepens again you have the physical and psychological boost of dropping again)
Reckless Rat
20-06-06, 07:40 AM
Ditchling Beacon just about finished me... I only just made it!
Coming down the other side is a blast, I clocked 58mph down Coldean Lane
into Btn... Scarey, on a wibbly wobbly bicycle!
RR
[quote="helen"]Kinvig - that's me inspecting my hamicad mod about 2 years ago.
[quote]
Oh, no!!!!! Tech-speak.
erm, my SV is yellow.
:o)
CB1ROCKET
20-06-06, 10:51 AM
I clocked 58mph down Coldean Lane
into Btn... Scarey, on a wibbly wobbly bicycle!
RR
You know there is 40mph speed camera down there?!!? lol
Whoa there Reckless Rat!
58 mph on a push bike :notworthy:
Are you sure your speedo was reading right???
Did you trigger the camera?
I always try and trigger the 30mph one outside Varndean School but it never flashes!! :wink:
Ditchling Beacon is great on motorbikes as well eh? :twisted:
Kinvig - that's me inspecting my hamicad mod about 2 years ago.
Ditchling Beacon has me beaten before i even get to it. Looks like a whacking great mountain when you're cycling up to it.
I hope to do it next year!
My word, its Helen!!
Done it about 10 years ago when i was fit, vowed never to do it again. Took 5 hours 28 mins and i done Dictchlin in one go...as i say, i was fit back then :lol:
Hello Viney!
I can't remember what my times were - but i remember leaving Clapham at 7.30, and reading the sunday papers at the top of Ditchling Beacon at 12 O'clockish, waiting for my mate to catch up.
You can't beat the atmosphere, all the way down to the coast.
Hello Viney!
I can't remember what my times were - but i remember leaving Clapham at 7.30, and reading the sunday papers at the top of Ditchling Beacon at 12 O'clockish, waiting for my mate to catch up.
You can't beat the atmosphere, all the way down to the coast.
Agreed pain in the ass to get home though
Well done & congratulations to those that did it, my other half & i have done it a couple of times & loved it, it really is a good day apart from that damned beacon, first year i managed to cycle up but the second year it was real humid & i only managed about three quarters of the way up.
Will definitely do it again one year though.
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